US1246280A - Refrigerating apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

H. M. K'LINGENFELD.

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED' MAY 26, 1916.

STATES OFFICE.

HARRY u. kLmGiiNrnLn, '.or" nrtweuxnn, WISCONSIN.

Y Application mea may 26, 191s. serial No. 99,936.

Toull'whoin t mag/concern:

Beit known that I, HARRY M.- Knitwear FELD, a citizen of the United States, residing. at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain/new and useful improvements in Rerigerating A paratus, of which thev follow'- ing is a speci cation, reference being had to the 'accompanyingdrawing forming a part thereo.` y

This invention relates more particularly to an Aabsorption systexnin which a refrigerat= mg agent such as ammonia is'successlvely-v evaporated and separated from an absorbent suchA as water, by the applicationof heat,

condensed by a Vcooling .agent and .expanded to produce a cooling effect.

. Its main objects are to shortenithe evaporating periodand prolong the abs rption period of the cycle of operations', to reduce the quantity of fuel and water or other cooling agent required'to evaporate and separate the refrigerating agent from the solution and vto condense the refrigerating agent after it is separated from the solution, and generally .tosimpliiy and improve the construction .and operation of apparatus of this class u particularly for domestic purposes and small-y comme'rcial plants. The invention consists inthe peculiar construction, arrangement and combination of parts as'hereinafter particularly described and pointed out in the claims.

The accompanying drawing illustrates partly in side elevation and partly'in verti pal section, apparatus embodying the inven- 1011. l ."f I

The apparatus comprises a closed ammo- .nia generating and-absorbing tank or generator absorber a, and 'aclosed 'condensing tank or condenser b, which are preferably made of 'metal and .may be like or similar in construction ^.to`an ordinary domestic bpiler forheatingwater. -Each tank is proivided with aninternal cooling chamber lc,-

preferably of cylindrical'form and attached at or ,ad3acent to its upper end, which may be .contractedas shown, by a iiuidtightjoint gto the'up' er end or .head of the tanke y lThe coolingc amber, which extendsfrm .the upper head nearly to-the bottom of the tank and fis-preferably coaxial therewith;` is clo'se'd Y' Spccication of Letters'fatent. I

nnraienaa'rme armirtA'rr'rs.

Patented Nev. 13, 1917.

at the lower end'and has an overflow opening at the upper end, arranged to discharge the cooling agent such as water, with which otherwise supported above the tanks a and.

b,- andis connected with said chambers by pipes g and h, extending downwardly nearly to the lower ends of said chambers. The intake opening at the upper end oi the pipe g, which is provided with a valve seat, is at a lower level than the intake opening at the upper end of the pipe h. The pipe h 1sv provided at its upper end, whichextends into the reservoir f above the upper end of the pipe g, with a vertically adjustable sleeve c",'

secured thereto by a set screw j, and forming a vertically adjustable overiow from said reservoir whereby the liquid level therein. may be varied, for-a purpose hereinafter eX plained. The upper end of the pipe g is provided with a valve k, which controls the supply of water or other cooling agent to the internal cooling chamber c of the tank a.

VThe valve 7c is operated by a lever Z, fulcrumed vonthe upper part of the. reservoir f and having a forked arm extending outwardlytherefrom.` p

A dehydratng oar-condensing and separating coill m contained in the reservoir f is connected at its lower intake end by a pipe n.withthe upper part of the tank van, and at its .upper outlet endby a pipe otwith the.'

lower part. of the. tank b.' I1 he pipe o is providedfwlth" a check valve'p, which closes to ward:- the; coil lm, a'nd between the check valve i andvtank b :with 'a high pressure gage pipen/r, provided-with a valve s, leads into the reservoir f,or supplying water or other cooling uidthereto'; f

yAn evaporating coil. preferably located or capacity outside of the casing d, is connected at one end with the lower part ofthe tank a and at the other end with the pipe n through the upper partk of said tank above the liquid level therein, or it may be connected with the pipe n above said tank. This evaporating coil, which is preferably inclosed by a casing u, may be heated by steam when it is available, or by other means such as a gas burner o, supplied with gas by a pipe fw, provided with a valve The handle g/,Of-v the valve has an arm or projection arranged to engage with the forked arm of the. lever Z, so that when the gas valve is opened as shown in the drawing, the 'valve k will beA closed, and when the gas valve is closed, the valve if: will beqopened, without'care o'r at-l tention.

Where steam is available for evaporating the contents of the tank a, a steaincoil may be placed inside of the tank, but an evaporating coil and means for heating .thesaine located outside ofthe generatorA absorber a, as shown by the drawing, are preferable.

he cooling chamber@ of the generator absorber a is provided witha drain or outf let connection for emptying it. This may be of smaller capacity than the supply pipe or connection g, and left constantly open so that 1t will require no attentiona A Siphon z is shown for this4 purpose, having its inner leg within the chamber c, of smaller diameter than the pipe g.

he generator absorber is provided with a gage 2, for indicating the liquid level therein. An expansion coil 3 is connected 2y a pipe 4, the lower part ofthe condenser sion coil is preferably immersed a suitable solution such as calcium chlorid, contained in a receptacle 7, surrounding a freezing or coolingchamber 8, of any suitable construction, according to Athe use which is to be made of it.

A filter or scale trap 9, of any suitable construction, is preferably placed in the pipe 4 leading to the expansion coil, to. remove anyimpurities or foreign matter from theV refrigerating agent which vmay be carriedV over with it from. the condenser. The pipe.

'The return pipe l5 is provided with a low pressure gage.

a Shut-og. valve l2, a check valve 13 closlng toward the. expansion coil (although this may be omitted), a drain cock 14 andv a three-way valve lhaving a hose or pipe coupling for' charging the 'generator ab,

sorber and for disconnecting it from the eX- pansionlcoil.

Avent pipe 16, provided with cocks YY17, is connected with the upper ends of the tanks a and for releasing air o r foreign gases which may be trapped therein.

Any suitable refrigerant may be used in the apparatus, such as anhydrous ammonia, which is r'eadily soluble in water.

he apparatus with ammonia as a refrigerant, operates as follows:

The generator absorber a 'being charged with a strong aqueousvsolution of ammonia to about the level of the top of the gage 2, and the reservoir f supplied with water through the piper, the gas valve or cock is opened, as shown inthe drawing, and the burner o lighted. The valve k being closed by the openin of the gas valve w, and the cooling cham erc of the tank a being empty, theaqueoiis solution drawn from the lower part of the generator-absorber L is heated in the coil t, and because of the unstable chemical character of the aqua animonia, the ammonia, whose boiling point is lower than that ofthe water,V is rapidly vaporized and conducted therefrom through the coil m, which is immersed in the cooling water contained in the reservoir f to the level -of the overflow opening at the upper end o'f the sleeve z', through which it overflows into the pipe i and thence into the lower `end ofthe cooling'chamber c, in the condenser 5. Aqueous vapor carriedoif with theammonia vapor or gas from the heating coil t, is condensed in the' coil m, and iiows back through the pipen into the generatorabsorber. rlhe dehydrated ammonia vapor or gas passes through the check valve Y and pipe o into the lower part of the con enser b, where it is condensed and liquefied by the cooling water with which the chamber c is filled, and which overiiows from the upper end thereof over the exterior surface of the condenser b into the basin or receptacle formed by the lower part of the casing d, passing ofi" through. the drain pipe or con` nection e. Only a comparatively small portion of the total volume of the aqueous solution of ammonia being subjected to heat at any given timein the coil: t into which it Hows from the lower pai of the generatorabsorber, evaporation and separation of the ammonia from the water is effected gradually and continuously in a much shorter time and with the consumption of much less gas or fuel than would be required to evaporate and separate the ammonia from the s`o lution by the direct application of heat to the entire volume contained in the generatorabsorber a.' The evaporation period is thus materially shortened, and the consumption of gas or fuel: materially reduced.

The application. of tue water or cooling llO iis

evaporation period.

. time, and is indicated-by remaining therein, and

' become too and-'materially reduces `and pressure of the expandiii high, as indicated-by the gage agent both internally and externally to the condenser during the evaporation period-, as shown and described,'expedites the condensation of the ammonia the quantity of wa-v ter required vfor .this purpose-during the After a suitable portion of s'orber a has thus been evaporatedp which' is accomplished in a comparatively short the liquid level in the gage 2, the gas valve ai is opening the valve k, 'which water vfrom 'the reservoir bei` c 'of generator-absorber a. .The Water filling-said chamber exterior surface of` the generator-absorber, quickly cools the'weak solution'zor liquid ammonia gas admitted pipes 5 and 6 from the expansion coil 3 begins, and actively continuesfor a compara?. tively long Vperiod until `the temperature 11, for eicient Work. y Y f From thelcondeiiser, the ammonia, "which is held under pressure ina liquid vstate' therein, 'is supplied through the pipe 4,

-lilter 9 and expansion valve 10, to the coil 3,

in which it expands, cooling the brine or other solution `in which it is immersed and the chamber 8 surrounded by the coil.

.Thevalve 10 may beautomatica'lly closed and opened in a well known manner by a thermostaticpontrolling mechanism, 'accoiiing to variations of temperature inthe brine or solution contained yin the chamber?, or

variations in the temperature of the air in the -refrigerating or-cooling chamber 8.

The-'spent ammonia gas, after expansion l in .the coil 3, is conducted -under low pres sure indicated bythe gage 11, through the pipes 5 and i where it is reabsorbed by the water or weak solutien: contained therein. i

Duringy the comparativelyl long expansion `andabsorption'.period of the'cycle, the valve Z, being open, the' cooling water descends in the reservoir V7" below the overow 'opening' intothe sleeve i and fpipe h, andis directed through the 1coolingchamber o of the gens erator-absorber c, overiowing at Ithe upper'Y Y -end of the chambertin 'a thin ilmovei the exterior surface. of the 'generator-absorber, keeping the solution contained thereinv cool and in condition --or continuous and activeabsorption ot the ammonia gas. During .this periodthe cooling water not needed for the. condenser. b and dehydrating coil m,

and. economy inthe use of water is thus the` short4` automatically `vinfected) lgDiii-ing gas inV the tank by' :the ammonia.V in the solution contained in generator-ab- *isl raised or lowered,

ammonia 6, into the geiierator-absorber 'a,-

" charge a. cooling agent over period of-'evaporation and separation of the when.: cooling ammonia. from 'the solution, water is `not required for the absorption, but is required for the condenser an coil m, it iscut olf from the fgenerator- I l absorber by closing the valve 7c, and rising Y inl the reservoir f around-the coil m, preliminarily cools; and condenses the 'aqueous vapor-1 entering said coil, through the' sleeve and pipe ing chamber c the exterior.y surface ofthe condenser I), conan'd then overiows` densingandliquefyingthe ammonia ldischarged into-said'condenser underthe pres-f sure oroducedfby evaporation'in the coil t.'

dvthel of the condenser and over.

A "lv-3,7 I

h into. the -cooll coolin'gwatercut :olf roinf the generator'- absorber, the coolingv Achamber c of the geiicrater-.absorber is automatically emptied by the action of the 'Siphon' a. f' f? f 'By adjusting' the sleeve i up or down when the valve lc waterin the voir 'and the `condens said coil. .i Y

The term4 fcoil is used herein inj a ge 'ngi eiect required in neri'c sense and is intended to `include a.' single .'85 is'closed, the level of the cooling-f1 reservoirv f around thecoill according to the-'tem f. peratureof the water supplied to the resetpipe ori chamber" orfv any suitable size and 2 1 shape or a group of such pipes or'chambers.v

Various modifications inthe construction and 'arrangement' of parts of the apparatus in theadaotation ofthe' Sameto conditions and -dierent uses may bemade without departure from'the' principle'and scope of the invention as" defined in the following claims. Y l f I claimt v L 1."ln refrigerating appara us the combinationl of a closed generator-absorber provarying vided with lanv interior cooling chamber hav- ,ingl an -'overflow lopeningarrai'iged to dis- .chargel a cooling agent over the .generatorsab'sorben a supply connection for` the cooling 'agentl leading into said chamber and Aprovided with a valve for the exterior lot shuttingoil. the supply otcooling agent I thereto, and 'a .'restrictedioutlet from the lower .part of said chamber for emptying the same when the supply of cooling-agent is shut'of 2. InA refrigerating apparatus the combi- .nation offga closed generator-absorber 'provided with 4an interior coo ing 'an'foverflow opening arranged 'to disthe'exterior of iis izo

the generator-absorberya "connectionj pro I vided with'. a valve -foi' supplying said' chamber with the 'cooling agent, and.l a .Siphon adapted vto empty said chamber when 112: 'the valveiinthesupply connection is closed.`

Bil-a', retrigeijatingapparatus the combination-oft a closed generator-absorberf-.pr"f

videdwith an interior cooling chamber having an overflow opening arranged to discharge a cooling agent over the exterior of the generator-absorber, a reservoir for the cooling agent located above the generatorabsorber, and having a connection leading into said cooling chamber and provided With a valvea dehydrating coil in said reservoir having a drain connection leading into the generator-absorber, an evaporating coil connected with the lower part of the generatorabsorber and with the dehydrating coil, means for heating said evaporating coil comprising a heating agent supply connection provided with a valve and a connection between the heat controlling valve and the valve controlling the supply of cooling agent to said cooling chamber' whereby the opening of one valve closes the other.

4. In refrigerating apparatus the combination of a closed generating and absorbing tank and a closed condensing tank, each provided With an inner cooling chamber havingan overow opening arranged to discharge a cooling agent over the exterior of the tank, a reservoir for the cooling agent located above said tanks and connected by conduits with the cooling chambers, the opening into the conduit leading into the cooling chamber of the generating and absorbing tank being at a lower level than the opening into the other conduit, a dehydrating coil in said reservoir generatingand absorbing tank, and means for evaporating the contents of the generating and absorbing tank.

5: In refrigerating apparatus the combination of a generating and an absorbing tank, a condensing tank provided With a cooling chamber, a Water reservoir located above said tanks andhaving a Water supply connection and a vertically adjustable outlet leading into said chamber, a dehydrating coil connected with the condensing tank and at its lower end with the generating and absorbing tank, and a. heater for evaporating the contents of the generating and absorbing tank.

6. In refrigerating apparatus the combination of a closed generating and absorbing tank provided with an internal cooling chamber having an overflow opening arranged to discharge a cooling agent over the exterior of the tank, a connection provided with a valve for supplying the coolin agent .to said chamber, an evaporating coil aving its inlet connected with the lower part of saldtank and its .outlet above the liquid level therein, a burner for heating said coil havlng a fuel supply connection provided .with a valve valves'whereby the opening of the fuel valve closes the other valve andthe closing of the fuel valve opens the other valve .charge over the exterior connected with thev and a connection betvveensaidassieme 7. ln r'erigerating apparatus the combination of an overdovv receptacle provided With a drain connection, a closed generating and absorbing tank and a closed condensing tank placed in vided With an internal cooling chamber having an overflow opening arranged 'to discharge over the exterior surface of the tank, connections for supplying a cooling agent to said chambers, means for controllingthe supply of the cooling agent to the cooling chamber of the generating and absorbing tank, and means for emptying said chamber.

8 ln refrigerating apparatus the combination of an overflow receptacle, a generating and absorbing tank and a condensing tan-k placed in said receptacle and each provided Witli an internal cooling chamber having an overflow opening arranged to dissurface of the tank, a water reservoir located above said tanks and having connections with their cooling chambers, the connection With the cooling chamber of the generating and absorbing tank having a valve and its inlet being at a lower level than the inlet of the other connection, a dehydrating coil contained in said reservoir and connected at its lower end with the'generating and absorbing tank and at its upper end With the condensing tank, the connection with the condensing tank having a check valve closing toward the coil, means for evaporating the contents of the generating and absorbing tank, and an expansion coil having an inlet connection with the lower part of the condensing tank and ,an outlet connection With the generatingand absorbing tank, the inlet connection having a restricted expansion opening and an outlet connection having a check valve closing toward said coil.

9. In refrigerating apparatus the combination of a closed generating and absorbing tank and a condensing tank provided with cooling chambers, a cooling agent reservoir located above said tanks and having delivery connections leading into said cooling chambers, means for shutting off the supply of cooling agent from said reservoirto the cooling chamber of the generating and absorbing tank, a dehydratmg coil having connections leading from the loWer and upper parts thereof into the generating and absorbin and condensing tanks respectively, a chec valve in the connection between said coil and the condensing tank to prevent back ltlovv of the refrigerating agent, and a heater comprising an evaporating coil connected with the generating and absorbing tank at dierent levels.

10. In refrigerating apparatus the combi- 'nation2 of; aclosed generator-absorber and a closed condenser provided with valve controlled vents opening from the upper parte said receptacle and each prothereof7 means ion alternately heating and cooling the liquid in the 'generator-absorber, means for cooling the condenser, a condensing and separating coil connected at the lower end with the generator-absorber and at the upper end with the condenser7 a check l valve closing tower@ said coil in the connectlon between 1t and the condenser, and an expanslon coll havmg an lnlet connectlon 'with the lower pari; of the conolen'ser and an' im' outlet connection with the lower part of the generator-absorber.

In witness whereof I hereto ax my rsig-A natre n presence of two witnesses. HARRY M. KLINGENFELD.

Witnesses:

Cms. L. Goss, e ALICE E. Grosra.

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